77. The Little Gland with a Very Big Job with Garni Barkhoudarian, MD

For a tiny organ, the pituitary gland carries outsized responsibilities in the human body. The size of a pea, the so-called “master gland” produces vital hormones that regulate many important bodily functions, including growth, stress, thirst, and even reproductive development. So it only follows that when things go awry with the pituitary gland, the body can suffer many other problems. Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian is a director of the Pacific Pituitary Disorders Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute and he joins us today to discuss the positive parts—and the pitfalls—of the pituitary gland. Christine, one of Dr. Barkhoudarian’s patients, also joins us to share her story of the long and arduous road to get her pituitary tumor diagnosed—and the happy ending she experienced when Dr. Barkhoudarian finally removed the tumor. For more information, visit: PacificNeuro.org